Summertime sweetness

Road trip to Oklahoma’s fresh fruit festivals and farms

By TTV Staff and Kaylie Cotten

Porter Peach Festival

Courtesy

The berries have bloomed, the peaches are ripe, and summer’s bounty has officially arrived in Oklahoma. You’ll find fresh fruit festivals in every corner of the Sooner State, and we’ve put together the perfect road trip itinerary for hitting the highlights. So grab your bushels, pack up the fam and head out to experience these home-grown celebrations.

Jay Huckleberry FestivalJuly 4–6 • South Main Street; Jay, OK
The huckleberry capital of the world invites you to a city-wide festival celebrating these delicious farm-to-table huckleberries. The carnival runs from July 3–7 at the RFC Pavilion Parking lot in Jay. On July 4, the city will have a fireworks show at the RFC Outdoor stage. The action ramps up July 5–6, with car races, foot races, music, arts, crafts and more. Visit jaychamber.org for a full schedule of events.

McLoud Blackberry FestivalJuly 11–13 • Citywide; McLoud, OK
Founded in 1895, the town of McLoud has been celebrating the harvest of local blackberries since the 1940s. The McLoud Blackberry Festival kicks off July 11 and continues through July 13. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. July 13, and the fun continues with a blackberry baking contest, cobbler eating contest and on-stage performances. The festival wraps up with fireworks at 10 p.m. Visit mcloudchamber.org for a full schedule
of events.

Porter Peach FestivalJuly 18–20 • Main Street in Porter off Highway 51B
Since its inception in 1960, the Porter Peach Festival has offered bushels of fun for all ages. The festival opens July 18 with a carnival, games, an art show, a talent show and live music. The celebration continues July 19 with a cooking contest, street games and a rodeo. The Peach Festival Parade steps off at 11 a.m. July 20, with free peaches and ice cream at 1 p.m. Visit porterpeachfestivals.com for a full list of events.

Stratford Peach FestivalJuly 20 • 701 S. Pine Ave.; Stratford, OK
There’s no such thing as too many fresh peaches. Stratford’s festival packs all the fun into one day, making it a perfect day trip destination. For the earlybirds, the annual Stratford Peach Festival features a free pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. Throughout the day, there will be festival games, a classic car show and live entertainment. Don’t leave without picking up a bushel of peaches from one of the seven local orchards.

Valliant watermelon festivalJuly 26–27 • Citywide; Valliant, OK
Each summer on the third Saturday in July, Valliant hosts their annual watermelon festival. Celebrate your favorite summer fruit with a watermelon slice in one hand and a horseshoe in the other. There are plenty of friendly competitions—the horseshoe tournament, turtle races, seed spitting, softball tournaments and pageants. Not the competitive type? Check out the quilt and photography shows, the petting zoo or the dozens of vendors.

Rush Springs watermelon festivalAug. 8–10 • Jeff Davis Park; Rush Springs, OK
This watermelon festival has been around since 1948. Over 20,000 watermelon lovers show out to this festival each year. The event includes over 100 vendors, carnival rides, a seed-spitting contest, and much more. Find out what all the fuss is about and check out the annual car show and live performances for some family fun.

You-pick farms

Bursting blackberries and sweet strawberries are a mid-summer necessity—but did you know you can get them fresh from the farm, all within a stone’s throw of Tulsa? From their farm to your table, these you-pick farms have fresh produce waiting for you.

Before you go, be sure to have containers to carry your berries (and other items). Some farms have containers, but others expect you to bring your own, and most farms charge by the pound. If you go pickin’ in the middle of the day, be sure to stay hydrated—the Oklahoma sun does not show mercy on produce pickers. You also might want garden gloves, as some blackberry bushes have thorns. Here are a few area farms that invite you to pick your own produce.

Uncle Buck’s Berries

Just a quick jet down U.S. 75 and you’ll find Uncle Buck’s Berries in Schulter, a farm with more than 7,000 blueberry and blackberry plants. By July, blueberries are winding down, but Uncle Buck’s should be booming with blackberries. Uncle Buck’s is open from 5 p.m to dusk Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment on Saturday. They encourage families to bring children who are sure to get a kick out of picking their own fruit. You don’t have to BYOB (bring your own basket) at Uncle Buck’s; they’ll provide one for you. Check their Facebook page for hours and updates.

Gibson Gardens

If you can’t catch them at the Rose District Farmer’s Market on Saturdays in Broken Arrow, head out to Bixby and visit Gibson Gardens. Grab a bucket and fill it up with fresh blackberries, or purchase their delicious heirloom and beefsteak tomatoes for the perfect sauce or sandwich. Follow their Facebook page for updates on when the farm is open for business.

Endicott Farms

Berries abound at Endicott Farms in Liberty-Mounds. The 35-acre farm is home to luscious blueberries and delicious blackberries, open for the season Thursday–Monday. Check out endicottfarms.com for hours and more information.

Joe’s Farm

Another Bixby gem, Joe’s Farm offers a variety of fresh vegetables to take home to your table. From cabbage, onions, beets, kale and more, Joe’s Farm invites visitors out to get nutritious, organic produce that will make your meals unforgettable. Check back with them on Facebook for updates on hours and crops available.